Automatic pressure-regulator



F. A. LITTER.

AUTOMATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.8,191e. RENEWED SEPT. 15, 1919.

1 ,320,879. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Fig.4

Tm-uemto z MAY-QM FREDR-ICK A. LITTER, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NovA, 1919.

Application filed November 8, 1916, Serial No. 130,263. RenewedSeptember 15, 1319. Serial No.- 323,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRIGK A. L TTER, a citizen of the United States,"residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticPressure-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic pressure regulators designedparticularly for use in connection with waterworks systems of privatehouses. My structure is de-.

signed to act in conjunction with a pressure tank and is so constructedthat when the pressure falls below a given point, the regulatorautomatically sets the pump in opera- .tion. When this pressure hasreached a predetermined point, the regulator automatically discontinuesthe operation of the pump.

The main object of my invention resides in the structure whereby theproper movement is given the switch structure by means of the movementsof a diaphragm forming a portion of the regulator. Specifically, Iemploy a lever element operatively disposed between spring and diaphragmbearing members in such manner that the lever is permitted free playbetween them or is not clamped between them.

Another object of this invention resides in the structure for directlyoperating and controlling the switch bar by means of which a circuit isopened or closed to govern the operation of the pump.

The preferre embodiment of myv invention is shown i the accompanyingsheet of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 shows my regulator detached and in side elevation,

Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a lever member used by me, and, I i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a switch bar used by me.

In these several views, the regulator is shown as comprising a springsupporting body or housing 1, within which the spring 2 is confined. Thepressure of this spring may be regulated by the cap closure shown at 3,a ainst which the spring bears at one end. his housing mem er 1s open atits lower end and its opposite sides are also slotted at diametricallyopposite points, as

shown at 4, in which the spring bearing member 5 operates. This springbearing member is rovided with a central upwardly extending oss 6 whichcenters the spring this latter being threaded centrally as shown at 12into which the water pipe is designed tobe screwed. Both members areprovided with cooperating boss portions 13 .of such size that theupstanding shoulders 14 on opposite sides of thediaphragm bearing memberare spaced slightly from the flanges 7 of the spring bearin member inthe manner shown. Both shoulders are also provided with upstanding lips15 between which the operating lever 16 is designed to fit. Thisoperating lever is'pivoted at one end to the spring casing as shown at17 and is provided with laterally disposed flanges 18, which flanges areof a size slightly smaller in width than the distance between theshoulders 14 and flanges 7, as shown. By this arrangement, the lever isnot securely clamped between the two bearing members,

but is loosely mounted therebetween to permit a free movement of thelever as it moves about its pivot 17. To the outer end of this lever,there is pivotally attached, as shown and atits left hand end itremovably car-' ries a roller contact member 26, which contact member isdesigned to operate between 'a pair of spring contact plates 27. It isto the binding posts 28 which lead to these spring plates 27 that theelectric wires are attached, it being understood that, although notshown, the spring plates 27 are slightly spaced from each other andelectric communication established between them by means of the roller26. The spring casing is also provided with a stop 29 which limits theupward'movement of the left hand end of the switch bar, as will beapparent and this switch bar is also limited in its lower movement bymeans of the screw 30 adjustably carried by the switch bar and arrangedto cooperate with the outwardly projecting flange 31 carried by thecasing.

In use, the threaded aperture 12 is connected to a water pipe leading tothe'storage reservoir. The pressure in this tank operates directly uponthe diaphragm and when this pressure has dropped below the minimum, theparts will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time, theswitch is closed and the pump structure normally set in operation. I Asthe pressure increases, the diaphragm is elevated slightly and becauseof the contacting engagement between the bosses 13 on the spring bearingmember 5 and the diaphragm bearing mem her 8, the laterally projectingflanges 18 of the lever 16 are not securely clamped between them.Therefore, as these bearing members are'elevated, the lever member 16 isalso elevated without any attendant frictional resistance between it andthe two bearing members, but against the resistance of the springcontrolled actuator member 20 until the corner 32 of the cam passesbeyond the centerof the roller 23. Because of this, the actuating member20 is allowed a quick action after the corner 32 of the cam portion '21has passed beyond the center of the roller 23. When this occurs, theswitch bar is withdrawn from the position shown in Fig. 1, to therebyinterrupt the electrical communication between the switch plates27.

What I claim, is:

A pressure regulator comprising a spring supporting body, a springconfined within said body, a spring bearing member movable Withinsaidbody and against which one end of said spring rests, a diaphragmstructure, a diaphragm bearing member interposed between said structureand said spring bearing member, a shoulder on said diaphragm bearingmember, an outwardlyprojecting flange on said spring bearing member, alever pivoted at one end and operatively disposed between the shoulderand flange on said bearing members, a boss structure carried by saidbearing members for holding them apart to allow said lever to operatefreely between them, an actuating member pivoted to the freeend of saidlever, a cam on the free end of said actuatin member, a switch barpivoted to said bo'y intermediate its ends in connection with one end ofwhich said cam operates, and a contact structure with which said switchlever operates In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

FREDRICK A. LITTER. Witnesses WALTER E. L. BOOK, A. L. PHELPS.

